In Camden, Arkansas, Night Chief Frank E. Williford, a male officer with the Camden Police Department, responded to a disturbance call at a local hotel located at Washington Street and Monroe Avenue. Upon his arrival, he encountered a transient man whom he recognized from previous dealings.
As Night Chief Williford was escorting the man from the hotel's cafe towards the lobby, the situation took a sudden and violent turn. The man unexpectedly turned, drew a semi-automatic pistol, and fired multiple times at the officer, striking him repeatedly. Following the shooting, the suspect fled to his hotel room. The wounded officer was rushed to Ouachita County Hospital for medical attention.
Despite the efforts to save him, Night Chief Williford succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The suspect was apprehended by law enforcement in his hotel room shortly after the incident. The man, who was 62 years old at the time, was subsequently tried and convicted of first-degree murder.
The court sentenced the convicted man to death for the murder of Night Chief Williford. However, this sentence was later commuted to a life term. The suspect ultimately died of tuberculosis on November 26, 1967, while at a state sanatorium. At the time of his death, Night Chief Williford was survived by his wife and their two young sons.
